Harness frame connector



Nov. 21, 1967 H. D. SWEAT HARNESS FRAME CONNECTOR Filed July 21, 1966Fig./

Henry D Swear I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,353,570 HARNESS FRAME CONNECTOR Henry D. Sweat,809 Sessions St, Soperton, Ga. 30457 Filed July 21, 1966, Ser. No.566,822 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-88) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in harness frame connectors for weaving looms.

In accordance with conventional practice, a harness frame has woodenupper and lower rails or sticks, into which are screw-threaded simplehooks for connecting upper and lower harness straps thereto. Underoperational strain, the hooks frequently become pulled out and separatedfrom the wooden rails, and valuable time is lost while the loom isstopped and the hooks are re-installed at another point on the rails.Also, when this happens repeatedly, the rails themselves become sodamaged that they are no longer capable of properly holding the hooksand must therefore be discarded.

In addition, since the upper harness straps extend vertically downwardlytoward the upper rail and the lower straps extend obliquely upwardlytoward the lower rail, the hooks on the upper rail are installedperpendicularly while those on the lower rail are oblique, so that theupper and lower hooks are aligned with the directions of pull of therespective straps. This, however, makes the upper and lower railsdifferent from-each other, and both types of rails must be carried instock for replacement parts.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to eliminatethe disadvantages above outlined, this object being attained by theprovision of an improved connector which may be used selectively andinterchangeably on both the upper and lower rails of the harness frame,so that carrying of two different types of rails in stockis unnecessary.

As such, the connector of the invention comprises a block-shaped bodywhich is adapted to be quickly and easily secured to a frame rail by apair of woodscrews. The body is formed with two screw-threaded bores,one of which is perpendicular while the other is oblique, these boresbeing adapted to selectively receive a screw-threaded shank of a harnessstrap attaching hook. Thus, when the connector is used on the upperframe rail, the connector hook is mounted in the perpendicular bore forproper alignment with and connection to the perpendicular upper harnessstrap. On the other hand, when the connector is used on the lower framerail, the hook is mounted in the oblique bore for proper alignment withand connection to the oblique lower harness strap.

In either instance, the hook is firmly held in the connector body ratherthan in the wooden rail, and since the body is firmly secured to therail, the heretofore experi enced difliculty of the hook being pulledout of place is eliminated. Also, the connector body may be secured evento a rail which has been damaged by previous installations ofconventional hooks, so that the damaged rail need not be discarded.

As another important feature, the invention provides means for lockingthe hook against rotation in the connector body.

The connector of the invention is simple in construction, efiicient anddependable in use, may be quickly and easily installed on rails ofvarious harness frames, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

3,353,570 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of aharness frame with connectors of the invention applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view showing one of theconnectors on the upper frame rail;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged vertical sectional view of theconnector shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in theplane of the line 22 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section,showing one of the connectors on the lower rail.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the generalreference numeral -10 designates a conventional loom harness frame,including wooden upper and lower rails 11, 12, respectively, connectedtogether by side struts 13, the struts 13 supporting bars 14 which carrya set of heddles 15, as will be clearly apparent. The frame rails 11, 12are sometimes referred to as sticks or slats.

A pair'of upper harness straps -16 extend perpendicularly downwardlytoward the upper rail 11, while a pair of lower straps 17 extendobliquely upwardly toward the lower rail 12, the ends of these strapsbeing provided with eyes 18 for connection to hooks which in accordancewith conventional practice are screw-threaded directly into the woodenrails 11, 12. In order that the hooks may be properly aligned with thedirection of pull of the straps, the hooks on the upper rail areperpendicular while those on the lower rail are oblique, and it will beunderstood that under the strain of operation, the hooks whenscrewthreaded directly into the wooden rails frequently become pulledout and must be reinstalled at some other point on the rails.

, The improved connector of the invention is designated generally by thereference numeral 20 and is so arranged that it may be used selectivelyand interchangeably on either end portion of either the upper rail 11 orthe lower rail 12. Since all the connectors are the same, a descriptionof one will sufiice for all.

Each of the connectors 20 comprises a block-shaped body formed frommetal, hard plastic, or the like, the body having a central body portion21 formed integrally with a pair of lateral ears or wings 22 which areapertured to receive a pair of wood-screws 23 whereby the connector isfirmly secured to the associated rail of the harness frame.

The body 21 is formed with a screw-threaded bore 24 which isperpendicular to the base edge 21a of the body, and a secondscrew-threaded bore 25 is provided in the body obliquely to the baseedge. The bores 24, 25 are adapted to selectively receive ascrew-threaded shank 26a of a harness strap attaching hook 26.

When the connector 20 is to be used on the upper rail 11 of the frame,the hook shank 26a is installed in the perpendicular bore 24 of the body21, so that the hook is properly aligned with the direction of pull ofthe perpendicular upper strap 16. On the other hand, when the connectoris used on the lower rail 12, the hook is installed in the oblique bore25, whereby the hook is obliquely disposed and aligned with thedirection of pull of the oblique lower strap 17.

Means are provided for locking the hook against rotation in theconnector body, such means involving the provision of additionalscrew-threaded bores 27, 28 in the body 21, the bore 27 merging into oneend portion of the bore 24 and the bore 28 merging into one end portionof the bore 25. The bores 27, 28 accommodate a pair of set screws 29, 30respectively, for locking engagement with the shank 26a of the hook 26when the hook shank is installed in either of the bores 24, 25. Toattain such locking engagement positively, the set screws 29, 30preferably have pointed ends as indicated at 31, receivable in alongitudinal groove 32 formed in the shank 26a of the hook 26, as willbe apparent from FIGURES 3-5.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The combination of a loom harness frame including upper and lowerrails, an upper harness strap extending vertically downwardly toward theupper rail, a lower harness strap extending obliquely upwardly towardthe lower rail, and upper and lower connectors attaching the respectivestraps to the respective rails, said upper and lower connectors beingidentical in construction and therefore usable selectively on the upperand lower rails, each of said connectors comprising a block including acentral body and a pair of lateral wings provided with apertures, a pairof mounting screws extending through said wing apertures into theassociated rail, said central body being provided with a verticalscrew-threaded bore and with an oblique screw-threaded bore, and aharness strap attaching hook having a screw-threaded shank receivableselectively in said vertical and said oblique bores, the hook shank ofthe upper connector being positioned in the vertical bore for alignmentof the hook with the vertical upper harness strap and the hook shank ofthe lower connector being positioned in the oblique bore for alignmentof the hook with the oblique lower strap, said harness straps engagingthe hooks of the respective connectors.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 together with a setscrewprovided in the body of each connector for locking a hook shank in thevertical bore.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 together with a setscrewprovided in the body of each connector for locking a hook shank in theoblique bore.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the screw-threadedshank of said hook is provided with a longitudinal groove, and asetscrew provided in the body of each connector, said setscrew enteringsaid groove in the hook shank whereby to lock the hook against rotation.

5. A harness strap connector usable selectively on upper and lower railsof a loom harness frame, said connector comprising a block including acentral body and means for mounting said block on a frame rail, saidcentral body being provided with a perpendicular screw-threaded bore andwith an oblique screw-threaded bore, and a harness strap attaching hookhaving a screw-threaded shank receivable selectively in saidperpendicular and said oblique bores.

6. The connector as defined in claim 5 together with means for lockingsaid hook shank against rotation in said body.

7. The connector as defined in claim 6 wherein said locking meanscomprise a setscrew provided in said body and engaging said hook shank.

8. The connector as defined in claim 7 wherein said hook shank isprovided with a longitudinal groove, said setscrew entering said groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 164,777 6/1875 Sladdin 139-912,380,124 7/1945 Streuli 139-88 2,601,872 7/1952 Kaufmann 139-882,625,957 1/ 3 Consoletti 139-88 2,659,394 11/1953 Kaufm-ann 139-882,910,095 10/1959 Hayden 139-88 2,982,314 5/1961 Hayden 139-88 3,047,0297/ 1962 Kaufmann 139-88 FOREIGN PATENTS 231,803 12/1909 Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner.

5. A HARNESS STRAP CONNECTOR USABLE SELECTIVELY ON UPPER AND LOWER RAILSOF A LOOM HARNESS FRAME, SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISING A BLOCK INCLUDING ACENTRAL BODY AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID BLOCK ON A FRAME RAIL, SAIDCENTRAL BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH A PERPENDICULAR SCREW-THREADED BORE ANDWITH AN OBLIQUE SCREW-THREADED BORE, AND A HARNESS STRAP ATTACHING HOOKHAVING A SCREW-THREADED SHANK RECEIVABLE SELECTIVELY IN SAIDPERPENDICULAR AND SAID OBLIQUE BORES.